LOST IN THE WILDERNESS 201 



erally hearty ones when grub was plentiful. 

 About an hour before sunset we would prepare 

 our camp for the night, selecting a spot sheltered 

 from the wind as much as possible, but avoiding 

 hollows, as the smoke was sometimes a nuisance. 

 With the help of our axes and snowshoes a space 

 of about seven or eight feet long and six wide, 

 would be cleared of snow. In a semi-circle behind 

 us ten or twelve small poles, six feet long or so, 

 were stuck in the snow, covered over with branch- 

 es and then packed with snow three feet high. In 

 front of this the fire was built, using as a sort of 

 radiator two or three of the largest logs we could 

 handle. A good pile of suitable wood was collected 

 and branches for our beds and our camp were 

 ready. It generally took about two hours' work to 

 prepare a fairly comfortable camp for the night. 

 In such a place as above described I have slept 

 when the thermometer was thirty degrees and more 

 below zero. In very cold winter weather the 

 fire had to be kept going continually, each taking 

 watch turn about while the other snatched a little 

 sleep. We accomplished about fifteen miles the 

 first day and camped on a small branch of the Mis- 

 tassini river. During the night the weather 

 grew cloudy, and about an hour before daylight 

 snow began to fall. We had breakfast, rigged up 

 our packs and started out as soon as we could see 

 our way. 

 About ten o'clock the wind and snow increased. 



